Commons leader Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil 35 new bills into the King’s Speech next week, which will hand greater powers to local leaders and to the economic watchdog, the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR). The government has stated that growth is a key part of the prime minister’s agenda, describing the measures to be announced as a “down payment” on the change the government is seeking to deliver. However, the SNP has joined Labour frontbenchers in pressuring Sir Keir to scrap the two-child benefit cap as part of the new legislation, with Reform’s former deputy leader Ben Habib criticizing Nigel Farage’s party and calling for more democracy after being ousted.
Starmer pressured to scrap two-child benefit cap in King’s Speech as fired Reform member slams party – latest news
Commons leader condemns Trump assassination attempt in Pennsylvania
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Sir Keir Starmer is expected to unveil 35 new bills into the King’s Speech next week.
The new laws will hand greater powers to local leaders and to economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), with growth a key part of the prime minister’s agenda, the government has said.
The PM described the measures, to be announced on Wednesday, as the “down payment” on the change his government is seeking to deliver.
But the SNP has joined Labour frontbenchers in pressuring Sir Keir to scrap the two-child benefit cap as part of the new legislation.
Mr Flynn has written to Anas Sarwar, the Scottish Labour leader, urging him to instruct his party’s MPs in Scotland to abolish the cap.
It comes as Reform’s former deputy leader Ben Habib has criticised Nigel Farage’s party and said it should be made more democratic after being ousted.
Mr Habib was fired and replaced last week by Richard Tice in Nigel Farage’s shake-up he had “long held concerns about the control of the party and the decision making processes”.
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Starmer launches strategic defence review to ‘strengthen homeland security’
Sir Keir Starmer has launched a review of the UK’s defence to protect the country from a “more dangerous and volatile world”.
The prime minsiter said spending would be “responsibly increased” to bolster Britain’s “hollowed-out armed forces”.
It comes after Sir Keir reaffirmed his commitment to increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP (gross domestic product) at the Nato summit in Washington last week.
According to the Ministry of Defence, the review will aim to strengthen UK homeland security, bolster Ukraine in its fight against Russia, and modernise and maintain the nuclear deterrent.
It will be led by former Nato secretary general Lord Robertson of Port Ellen, and draw on military and foreign policy experts such as Dr Fiona Hill and General Sir Richard Barrons.
A defence review team will also be established to engage with serving and retired members of the armed forces, the defence industry, the general public, academics, Parliament and the UK’s allies.
Sir Keir said: “We live in a more dangerous and volatile world. My Government will forge a new clear-eyed approach to our national defences, equipping us to tackle international threats head on while keeping the British people safe and secure.
“I promised the British people I would deliver the change needed to take our country forward, and I promised action not words. That’s why one of my first acts since taking office is to launch our strategic defence review.
“We will make sure our hollowed-out armed forces are bolstered and respected, that defence spending is responsibly increased, and that our country has the capabilities needed to ensure the UK’s resilience for the long term.”
(Stefan Rousseau/PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 07:18
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Starmer warns ‘no time to waste’ as he tries to pack 35 bills into King’s Speech
The new laws will hand greater powers to local leaders and to economic watchdog the Office for Budget Responsibility (OBR), with growth a key part of the prime minister’s agenda, the government has said.
The prime minister described the measures, to be announced on Wednesday, as the “down payment” on the change his government is seeking to deliver.
The strengthening of the OBR, which was outlined in Labour’s manifesto, is designed to ensure that “nobody can play fast and loose with the public finances ever again”, Downing Street said.
Read what can we expect from the full speech below:
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 07:10
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What legislation is expected to feature in the King’s Speech?
Ahead of the King’s Speech on Wednesday, the Government said it will put economic growth at the heart of its legislative agenda.
More than 35 bills are expected to be announced as Labour seeks to maintain momentum and define its first 100 days in office as a period of positive progress.
Here is a summary of the expected legislation:
Fiscal disciplineFurther devolutionNational wealth fundClean energy boostPlanning and infrastructureRevitalising RailSkills push to focus on big businessBorder securityReform for rentersCrime and policingWorkers’ rightsHelp for mental healthEradicating smokingMartyn’s LawConstitutional reformFootball governanceActing on AIThe King and Queen during the State Opening of Parliament in November 2023 (PA) (PA Wire)
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 07:00
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Children risk becoming ‘forgotten generation’ due to NHS waits
Children and young people risk becoming a forgotten generation owing to crippling waits for NHS care, health leaders have warned.
A report from NHS Providers said 82% of trusts it surveyed are unable to meet the current demand for children and young people’s services.
NHS trusts provide a variety of help for children and young people at home, in the community and in hospitals, such as health visiting, speech and language therapy, audiology, neurodevelopmental services, mental health services and autism assessment.
The report found that rising demand and long waits for services are the biggest challenges for trusts, with more and more children needing help.
For example, 5.3 million children and young people were in contact with mental health services in 2023/24 – up 8.1% on 2022/23 and 25.7% on 2021/22.
In the report, which included 134 responses from leaders at 95 trusts, almost all (97%) said the current level of demand they were experiencing for children and young people’s services had increased compared with before the Covid pandemic.
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 06:30
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Watch: Jo Cox’s husband reacts to Trump rally shooting: ‘He has some culpability’
Jo Cox’s husband reacts to Trump rally shooting: ‘He has some culpability’
Jo Cox’s husband has condemned the shooting at a Donald Trump rally in Pennsylvania on Saturday, 13 July, but said the former president “has some culpability in creating an environment where violence is more likely.” Brendan Cox’s late wife, a Labour MP for Batley and Spen, was stabbed and shot by a far-right extremist in Birstall, West Yorkshire, in 2016. Speaking to LBC on Sunday, Mr Cox said there was “zero justification” for the shooting but Mr Trump has “incited and inflamed political violence himself.” “I feel sympathy, I feel pain for the fear his family must have felt at that moment… He also has some culpability in creating an environment where violence is more likely,” Mr Cox added.
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 06:00
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How Starmer’s big moment on world stage was derailed by Biden blunders
Keir Starmer knew that his first post summit press conference as prime minister was always going to be an important moment.
After a good, solid first international outing since the election victory, where he had been warmly welcomed by fellow world leaders at Nato, Starmer needed to cap off his trip to Washington DC with an equally good, solid performance at the microphone in front of journalists.
Few people appreciate how much preparation goes into what often appear to be perfunctory occasions, but on the plane home, Starmer shared with journalists that in between a succession of bilaterals and Nato council meetings, he and his team had planned for all possible questions.
Our political editor David Maddox has the full story:
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 05:30
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Starmer to host European leaders at his first UK-led summit
Sir Keir Starmer will welcome around 50 European leaders at Blenheim Palace as part of the summit of the European Political Community (EPC) on Thursday.
The EPC will discuss “some of the most pressing generational issues” facing the continent, Downing Street said in a press release.
The leaders will also discuss illegal migration and energy when they meet at the country house.
Starmer said ahead of the summit: “We cannot be spectators in this chapter of history. We must do more and go further, not just for the courageous Ukrainians on the frontlines, or those being trafficked from country-to-country, but so our future generations look back with pride at what our continent achieved together.”
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 05:00
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Labour MP speaks up after protesting against monarchy during Commons oath
Clive Lewis, who represents Norwich South, has criticised the “hysteria” media headlines after protesting against the monarchy doing his affirmation at the Commons on Wednesday 10 July.
At the time, the Labour MP said prior to his affirmation: “I take this oath under protest and in the hope that one day my fellow citizens will democratically decide to live in a republic.”
In the aftermath of the statement, he slammed the reaction to his remarks claiming headlines prove we live in a “reactionary democracy”.
In his response to said “meltdown”, he said: “So I made the mistake of looking underneath my timeline on my statement in the oath about the republic.
“What this shows me is two things. Firstly, it was no big deal what I said. What I said was that I, as a democratically elected representative, would like to live in a democratically-decided republic.
“The actual hysteria from the media headlines like I’m ‘taking a swipe at the monarchy’ tells us all we need to know about the fact that we live in a reactionary democracy.”
(Clive Lewis/X)
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 04:30
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Tory treasurer who gave party £5m quits role after election defeat
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 04:00
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Labour slated for ‘holes’ in animal-welfare and green policies
Labour’s animal-welfare and environmental policies may be better than the Tories’ – but they contain disappointing gaps, experts say.
In a YouGov poll last year, a third of voters said animal welfare was one of their top three issues.
So new environment secretary Steve Reed will come under pressure from lobby groups – and in some cases, from opposing countryside and farming factions.
It pledged a Labour government would “champion British farming whilst protecting the environment”.
Our reporter Jane Dalton has the full story:
Salma Ouaguira16 July 2024 03:30
Read the full story on www.independent.co.uk
https://www.independent.co.uk/news/uk/politics/starmer-labour-cabinet-kings-speech-tory-reform-latest-news-b2580355.html